President William Ruto has demanded that residents of Samburu County hand over unlawfully held weapons, cautioning that authorities will forcibly confiscate firearms if owners fail to comply voluntarily. During a visit on Sunday, Ruto stated that security forces have identified individuals possessing illegal guns and will pursue them if the arms are not surrendered promptly. He emphasized that communities should abandon armed livestock herding and return to using traditional methods, noting that gun violence has caused numerous deaths and left families without breadwinners.
Ruto suggested that young men interested in carrying weapons should instead enroll in formal police recruitment rather than keep firearms illegally. The directive follows a similar warning issued on October 28 in Baringo County, where the president revealed that 600 illegal weapons had already been collected but many more remain in circulation. He described armed banditry as a persistent problem that has destabilized parts of the North Rift region and pledged decisive action against those who refuse to surrender their guns.
Ruto suggested that young men interested in carrying weapons should instead enroll in formal police recruitment rather than keep firearms illegally. The directive follows a similar warning issued on October 28 in Baringo County, where the president revealed that 600 illegal weapons had already been collected but many more remain in circulation. He described armed banditry as a persistent problem that has destabilized parts of the North Rift region and pledged decisive action against those who refuse to surrender their guns.
